Can't get it done.

Put one bird to bed last night. He was about four hundred yards past the property line on the wrong side.

There was a truck parked just up the road listing as well. So I came up with a plan. Up at four out the door by 4:20. Parked by the old farmhouse and started the long hike to the top of the ridge. Walking with out a flashlight on one of the trails I hear a strange sound of rain. But it is not raining. Three lawn sprinklers. A quick game of pitfall and I'm on my way. My plan was to try and call him off the roost to my ridge, about 1/4 mile away.  Checked my trailcam on the way by. A few deer and the long beard was back on the 29th. I think he likes to have his pic taken. There were about 15 pics of him only 5 yards from the camera.

I get set up with "Wilma" my decoy about 20yards to my left. Digging threw my bag I find my calls and let out a few yelps and clucks. He gobbles right back at me. He knows I'm here. About 20min pass and a turkey flies down off to my left and Does not make a sound. I can here some one down the hill from me with what sounds like box call. Sounded more like a dying hen. The Tom is all fired up now. Answering every time the guy calls. This gos on for about 30min. and then the tom shuts up. I let out a few more calls and nothing.

7:00am time to move on. Gather up my things and I make it bout 100 yards and jump three deer.

I stop and take a look at them as they run away. Making my way back to the field I see a hen run across the trail. Maybe this is the bird I herd fly down.

I set up back at the power line again.  Just down from yesterdays spot. Make a few calls and not much going on.

I sit for about 20min and hear a distant gobble. Then a shot. Damn. But he gobbles again.

 I get out my copper pot call and hickory striker and just start wailing away. He responds. This bird is out there. I mean out there. I get up and close about 200 yards to the property boarder and set up on a ridge between two draws with a even bigger one in front. Hit the call again and he is closer. Now my heart is going. I put Wilma just down the hill from me.  He is just on the other side now. I take a break from the call for about 10min.

 I get out my mouth call and cut aggressively at him. He hammers back. only 80 yards now. The last time I had a tom this close I called it away form my brother and shot it :-). He is still out of sight. Take a break again and he starts working up the left draw. Not good. I am just down on the right side of the ridge. I do everything I can to get him to come over the ridge but he wont. I call for about 15 more min. He is not as hot anymore. So I try and sneak up to the ridge and get a look. 

 I poke my head up and there he is. Moving away slowly at about 100 yards.(red x is where he was) 

He is just about to go out of sight. I call and nothing. he just walks away. I walk back to my things and get packed up. Start walking back to the car. Boom a shotgun sounds off about 200yards from where I just was.